Into the Shadows

Chapter 2: He Jumped the Stones Like Little Hurdles.

She awoke again to the warm sunlight. Still unready to get up, she tugged her blanket up to her chin and settled in to continue her slumber. After painstakingly long minutes she accepted the fact she could sleep no more. She lazily rolled over to check the time on her phone. 9:34.She had woken up relatively early by her standards. She untangled her duvet and slumped downstairs.

It was Monday and she didn't even bother to check if anyone was home. A day alone in luxury. How could a day alone be luxury? For her it often was. She was an independent girl and valued alone time. Most times the only way she could cope or truly relax was when she was alone. She wasn't antisocial but she found the up keeps of social situations exhausting.

When she was alone it was easy. No one to tip toe around, no one to impress or entertain. It was just her. Her solitude often made her feel free, like for once she could escape the social confinements that surrounded her most hours of the day.

She entered the living room and immediately longed for its usual warm light. She drew the curtains open and let the morning sunshine flood in. She walked over to the kitchen and made a simple toasted ham and cheese. Breakfast of champions. She grabbed a glass of milk and settled in to watch some TV.

~ ~

He awoke with a start. The sudden movement sent his pounding head spiraling, taking his vision with it. After the haze cleared he slowly sat up, lifting Christina's limp arm from his stomach. Her silk sheets felt cool and slick on his body, but it was a comfort he could not afford.

He attempted to roll out of bed quietly enough that Christina wouldn't awake. Luckily he made it. He took the path through the house to the side door, picking up his strewn clothes on the way. By the time he even got anywhere close to home, the sun was high in the sky.

He wanted to go anywhere but there at the moment. His parents often worked at home when they weren't traveling and he knew that any confrontation at this time would send his blazing temper roaring. He turned onto a more commonly used street and walked it right into town. He wriggled his phone from his wrinkled pants and saw it was almost 2:30. He had spent hours walking around. How he managed to get to Christina's walking was a mystery but he wasn't surprised.

Many of his late nights ended this way: hand-made mystery. It wasn't often that he stumbled upon natural mystery though. His nights were mere products of his poor, drunken decisions. He thought of the girl on the roof and wondered about her.

He found a small coffee shop and took the small table in the very back. He ordered black coffee, just how he liked it. The small bell dinged signaling someone's entrance. She tossed an apron over her head and headed behind the counter.

Once more there was pulling in his gut. He tried to observe her from his seat but the angle was unforgiving. She was tan and had dark brown hair. It was swept up into a pony tail so it's length was unknown. She had brown eyes and was fairly tall. She held herself in this...manner. It was strong and powerful. It was sure-footed and beautiful, but it was clear in the small gestures there was reserve and self consciousness.

For some reason he wanted to take those things away. He didn't want her to feel as if she had to hide. She glanced his way to see him intently staring at her. Knowing he had been caught, he tried to look away but he couldn't. From the looks of it, neither could she.

~ ~

Emotion washed over her like a newly risen tide. She wasn't sure of it origins but she couldn't ignore it. Across the room she gazed at him... They gazed at each other. It wasn't until her boss came over that she snapped out of her daze.

His presence was like a pin in the back of her head. She couldn't see it but she could feel it. He finished his coffee,paid and then left. She watched him swagger out of the door and longing tugged at her insides. She didn't know him but he had sparked her interest.